By Dick Pelletier
Arthur C. Clarke once said: “Any sufficiently advanced
technology is virtually indistinguishable from magic.” Enter
mankind’s newest plunge into the future – nanotechnology.
One day soon, a small Star Trek-like replicator called a
“nanofactory” will sit on your kitchen counter and let you order up
any product you 
want – plasma TV, clothes, an appliance, or whatever your
dreams desire – at little or no cost.
This wild technology sounds like science fiction, but its not.
According to AI entrepreneur Ray Kurzweil and nanotech author Eric
Drexler, this nanofactory will arrive by the 3rd decade of this
century – 2020-2030.
Here’s how nanotech replicators would work: microscopic-size
machines collect raw atoms from supplied chemicals, or from
something as inexpensive as seawater, and enable those atoms to
grow or “morph” into the final product: a sweater, refrigerator,
health medicine, or even a duplicate nanofactory.
Key technologies of the past half-century – transistors,
semiconductors, and genetic engineering – all focused on reducing
size, materials and costs, while increasing power and efficiency.
We now stand poised to continue this trend into a revolution that
offers the potential to rebuild the entire physical world – our
bodies and brains included – one atom at a time.
The National Institutes of Health states that someday implanted
nanotech materials will actually become part of the body – able to
search out and destroy cancer cells before they develop into a
tumor, or precisely direct drugs to heal damaged tissues – and when
no longer needed, dissolve and be absorbed or excreted. (cont.)
Never in history has a new technology been so well funded. Last
year Congress approved $4 billion for nanotech development in hopes
the U.S. will maintain its position as world leader, and not be
overtaken by other countries as happened with the VCR, TV, automobile, and so many other “American”
ideas.
The driving force behind this revolution is money. The current
global market for nano-scale technologies, according to
www.etcgroup.org, is estimated at $45 billion, with products in
biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, information and energy storage, and
materials. Nanofabricated circuitry is predicted to capture the
silicon-based semiconductor market within the decade, and by 2015,
the world market for nanotech products could exceed $1
trillion.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley Technical College plans
a 2-year associate degree course in nanotechnology beginning in
September. Many colleges and universities now list nanotech-related
courses.
As nanotech becomes more prevalent, its impact will be felt in
negative areas too. Labor-free products from replicators could
devastate many industries. Governments are now scrambling for ways
to control the economic impact of this amazing new technology.
Clearly, the road to nanotech winds around unknown, possibly
even dangerous turns. But strong commerce and government support is
driving this future forward – and it will unfold in our lifetime.
This magical revolution promises to create a cleaner environment,
abundant affluence, and perfect health for us all. See video of
nanofactory in operation here
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